Post #329835 by Loki on Mon, Sep 3, 2007 9:22 AM

On 2007-09-03 08:01, bigbrotiki wrote:
Sorry, but that "wisdom of the general public" argument does not stick with me. To use their ignorance as a parameter would mean the end of Western culture, reality TV everywhere, and the film "Idiocracy" becoming a reality.

I am not saying that from a high horse, using the term "ignorance" as a negative, but as in "not knowing better". The lowest common denominator is used as a standard too often nowadays, and the "but the people like it" excuse is the favorite front of purely money-oriented developers everywhere, and that is EXACTLY what the appreciation of Tiki culture rises up against.

If we go by the fact that the people don't know better, we might as well put our hands in our laps and watch the hole thing go down the hill.

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2007-09-03 08:02 ]

Sven, its the general public that keeps places like the Mai Kai in business, not a carving of a painted tiki or honest to goodness genuine tikis...The Mai Kai has been in business for 50 years...that is an accomplishment by any standards...again, they are not in the business of preserving tiki, they serve food, and showcase dancing and exotic plants and ambiance and great adult tiki drinks. God bless them for that.:)

You are in the business of preserving tiki....WE are in the business of preserving tiki and spreading the correct wisdom. Hopefully the “ignorant” visitor will be inspired to learn more and get The Book of Tiki or Oceanic Arts or find places like TC to explore and learn. We don’t have a right to tell the Mai Kai how to their job. I don’t see Kern on this site begging the TC ohana for business ideas. In fact I have witnessed many TC’ers getting their pictures taken with the Barney West Tiki, full smiles and drinks raised to the tiki gods….

You are correct about the ignorance of people. This is not a social study; it’s a discussion about a painted tiki. Again, if the tiki was painted some 50 years ago, and it’s all the public (us included) has know it to be, than the paint wasn’t so bad. Trust me, I don’t want to see any tiki looking like a hooker in the Red Light District either.

This is like the argument of the Sistine Chapel when it was recently restored. For 500 years the colors were dark and ominous, then we start to clean it and find out Michelangelo used bold, bright colors....we suddenly cant take that fact, because we've only seen it dark and musty looking.

I have seen the new concrete tikis and at first I didn’t like them, but Will has done a great job preserving these things and I know in just a short time the hot Florida sun and humid weather will patina them and make them look great. I know Will personally and I believe he will do fine with them and he will adjust the colors to better represent original art.

By the way Pablus, its always great to see you and share a drink with ya and thanks for snooping around with questions about our beloved palace of tiki.

[ Edited by: Loki 2007-09-03 09:23 ]